On Wednesday, August 28, College of the Ozarks students Ramiro Rodriguez, a junior nursing major, and Lydia Richardson, a junior criminal justice major, contracted with the Army ROTC program and will begin training to become commissioned officers in the United States Army. Upon graduation from the College, they will receive their ranks as Second Lieutenants and be sent to their assigned Army units.

Cadet Rodriguez will train to serve as a nursing officer. “I wanted to see how far I can go to help people,” said Rodriguez. “I want God to take me someplace where I can really reach someone.” Rodriguez says that he is working hard to obtain his goal. To date, he has lost 70 pounds as a result of being involved in the ROTC physical fitness program and has significantly increased his army physical fitness abilities.

Cadet Richardson recently completed the ROTC’s Leadership Training Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky. “I like criminal justice, but I didn’t feel a complete peace yet,” said Richardson. “After I became involved in the ROTC program, I knew this was where I was supposed to be.” She was largely inspired to join the Army because of her father, Staff Sergeant Dale Richardson, a drill sergeant in the Army Reserves.

The ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) Program takes promising college students and equips them with the tools and skills they need to become effective leaders in the military and the civilian world. They are taught physical discipline, military tactics, leadership skills, and quality character traits. They are then expected to practice these skills in a controlled environment where they are evaluated and critiqued on their performance. This process ensures that only the most excellent leaders are at the helm of our armed forces.

For more information on the College of the Ozarks ROTC program, contact MAJ Douglas Schenck, U.S. Army (ret.), at 417-690-2239.